One Health is the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain sustainable optimal health for the ecosystem*. It is a cultural and behavioral concept with socioeconomic elements and impact.

*a biological community of living organisms (humans, animals, plants, and microbes) and their physical environment interacting as a system

Justin Bejcek

Kissing Bugs and Public Health

Justin Bejcek, a Texas A&M University Master of Science
candidate in Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, attended
the ICE 2016 XXV International
Congress of Entomology in Orlando, Florida on September 25-30,
2016. His research focused on helping the public differentiate
between kissing bugs (Triatominae), which are vectors of
Chagas disease, and non-kissing bugs. Justin was mentored by Dr.
Sarah Hamer, Assistant Professor in the department of
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
& Biomedical Sciences, and Dr. Gabriel
Hamer, Assistant Professor in the department of Entomology,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“The research goal for this study was to help people better
understand the differences between kissing bugs (vectors of Chagas
disease) and insects of similar appearance that are commonly
mistaken for the true vector," Justin commented. "I developed an
insect identification guide to help people with or without
entomological expertise to differentiate between the kissing bugs
and non-kissing bugs through descriptions written in laymen’s
terms. Medical and veterinary professionals, concerned citizens,
local public health workers, and professional pest managers, can
use this basic knowledge, ensuring this will be the first step in
integrative vector management programs for Chagas disease.”

Dr. Gabriel Hamer said, “Justin has applied his training as an
entomologist to develop a simple tool that will allow the public to
identify the blood-sucking insects that transmit the parasite that
causes Chagas disease. Proper identification of insects
capable of transmitting pathogens, and differentiating them from
common, harmless insects, is a critical first step toward assessing
risk of vector-borne disease and protecting human and animal
health. Justin’s user–friendly guide to identify ‘kissing bugs’
will help dispel some of the confusion about these insects that
cause lots of worry among veterinary, medical, and public health
communities. Justin’s work is also furthering our citizen
science program through which members of the public across the
state can submit kissing bugs they encounter to send to our
lab.”

At the conference, Justin was able to interact with entomologist
experts who showed considerable interest in his project. Justin was
able to receive information about how these experts deal with
misidentifications with the kissing bugs. This project will be
helpful for public health awareness in the Southern United
States.